Simple ways elevator owners can help improve safety

Over two billion people rely on elevators daily. From office towers to public transportation, airports and beyond, elevator passengers count on their elevator equipment to be safe. Elevator owners play an integral part in the safe continued operation of their elevator equipment for their passengers.

Here are five simple things elevator owners can do to help improve safety:

Elevator code requires each elevator machine room to have a fire extinguisher present and within reach of the main door. All fire extinguishers should be tested and certified annually to confirm safe and proper operation. The fire extinguishers within elevator machine rooms can be easily overlooked, which is why it is important for elevator owners to create a checklist of all fire extinguishers within the building that require annual certification and confirm this work is completed.

Building owners can easily be overwhelmed by clutter and the lack of storage space. It is easy to look at an elevator machine room or the area leading to the equipment space as open storage areas. However, elevator code requires two important things when it comes to access and storage; that all pathways are free and clear and that no non-elevator related materials are stored within the machine room.

Although this can create an inconvenience from a storage standpoint, it is important to provide safe access to and from all elevator equipment areas. Additionally, having only elevator related materials in the machine rooms allows technicians the space they need to work safely around high voltage equipment.

In the event of an outage or emergency, elevator emergency phones help passengers connect and communicate with help. Depending on the age and vintage of an elevator, the emergency phone may be handheld or behind a cabinet door. These types of phones create safety concerns for passengers with disabilities. Elevator owners should work with their elevator contractor to have all elevator emergency phones upgraded, making the phone easily accessible to all passengers and eliminating the need to pick-up a handset or open a cabinet door.

Elevator owners should also be aware of the requirement to test and document their elevator emergency phones monthly to confirm operation. Elevator code requires a written log be kept that shows monthly testing was completed. Testing is as simple as pressing the emergency phone button and asking the person who answers to advise where you are located and what elevator you are in, as this information should play on a prerecording. Sometimes owners inadvertently disconnect phone lines to elevators, not knowing why the phone line exists. If the elevator emergency phone is not working, it is important to confirm all phone lines are active through your phone provider. This will help reduce potential billable service requests from your elevator service provider in the event it is not an elevator related failure.

The issues that come with damaged floors are usually apparent. A loose tile can lead to a slip. A crumpled old rug can cause someone to trip. There are plenty more examples, but most people do not think of their floor in relation to their elevator. It is important for elevator owners to create a plan that continually checks all elevator cab floors throughout their building to confirm there are no potential tripping hazards present. If a tripping hazard is found, it is important for elevator owners to engage with their flooring contractor to address the issue immediately.

Additionally, debris from deteriorating floors both inside or outside the cab can be tracked into the elevator door sills, causing door operation issues. Elevator owners should check that all elevator door sills are free and clear of debris that can lead to derailment and equipment shutdowns.

Current elevator code requires elevator stop switches to be keyed. However, older elevators who are grandfathered in under an older code may utilize stop switches that are a “push/pull” or “toggle” type switch. These types of switches can create both operational and safety concerns for passengers and elevator owners.

From a safety standpoint, a passenger could easily activate a “push/pull” or “toggle” safety switch, creating a safety concern for other passengers in the elevator. Additionally, elevator owners may think their elevators have stopped working, when in fact the “push/pull” or “toggle” stop switch was activated. If this were to occur, this could lead to a billable service callout. Upgrading an elevator “push/pull” or “toggle” stop switch to a keyed stop switch is a quick and easy way to address safety.

Maintaining a safe elevator requires effort and diligence from both the owner of the elevator equipment and your elevator service provider. Only together, as a team, is achieving a safe operating experience for elevator passengers possible. To find out more information on ways to improve the safety of your elevator equipment and potential safety upgrades available, contact KONE or your service provider.